Signature Series: Singapore & Malaysia Foodie Tour with MasterChef Winner Diana Chan

After breakfast, transfer to Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) for your international flight to Kuala Lumpur (KUL).

Malaysia’s dazzling capital is a cosmopolitan culture hub, populated by dizzying skyscrapers, parks lined with lush banyan trees, opulent shopping malls and unrivalled street food. A feast for the senses, Kuala Lumpur’s culinary scene is perhaps its best-kept secret. Sizzling street food and fantastic fine dining demonstrate Malaysia’s complex cultural influences – you’ll recognise Thai, Chinese, Indonesian and Indian flavours at every turn, chopped up and reassembled in a distinctly Malaysian configuration.

After touchdown, customs and immigration, collect your bags and meet your tour representative before being transported to your luxury accommodation at the spectacular Mandarin Oriental, Kuala Lumpur.

Signature Accommodation: Mandarin Oriental, Kuala Lumpur

Set between the verdant gardens of Kuala Lumpur City Centre Park and the iconic Petronas Twin Towers, Mandarin Oriental, Kuala Lumpur stands as one of the city’s most impressive five-star hotels.

Featuring The Spa at Mandarin Oriental, Kuala Lumpur – the city’s only spa to be awarded a four-star rating by Forbes Travel Guide – as well as its famed rooftop infinity pool, offering sweeping views over Kuala Lumpur City Centre Park, there’s no finer place to retreat to after days spent discovering the city’s best sights and street-food secrets.

After check-in, the afternoon is yours to enjoy at leisure. Settle down in the shade of a cabana with a well-earned cocktail by the hotel’s magnificent pool, or head to the hotel’s day spa for wellness treatments inspired by Malaysian tradition. Alternatively, make a reservation at the hotel’s elegant Lounge on the Park for one of the city’s finest afternoon teas.

Signature Experience: Dinner at Bijan Bar & Restaurant

This evening, take your seat for an unforgettable dinner at Bijan Bar & Restaurant with 20 of your newfound travel friends. Here, the talented team effortlessly applies a fine-dining spin to the Malaysian home-cooking tradition, with exceptional results. The menu may feature such temptations as smoke-kissed chicken skewers marinated in spiced honey and peanut sauce, wild ferns stir-fried with caramelised coconut and chillis or a decadent coconut creme caramel.

Meaning ‘sesame’ in Malay, Bijan serves cuisine that’s just a step removed from the flavourful favourites of the country’s beloved hawker stalls. Unmistakenly Malaysian in character, this is an exceptional introduction to the country’s expansive culinary heritage.

Travel time: Driving – approx. 90 minutes / Flight – approx. one hour

Please note: Day 2 and Day 3 dinner itineraries may be swapped. Travellers who follow the Day 3 itinerary on Day 2 will follow the Day 2 itinerary on Day 3. Both groups will experience Bijan restaurant and the Kampung Baru Walking Tour.

Rise early and immerse yourself in Malaysia’s mouthwatering cuisine, shaped by a fusion of unique cultural influences. Start with a visit to Taman Tun Market, led by a local guide, where you’ll explore bustling stalls packed with a kaleidoscope of ripe fruits, rich aromatics and ultra-fresh herbs. It’s here that the foundations of Malaysian cooking are plain to see, displayed in all their tantalising glory.

Find the flavoursome mastery in the way seasoned locals handle, chop, fry and mix galangal, lemongrass, dried chilli paste, fresh curry leaves, tamarind, roasted coconut and pandan leaves to create an ever-changing tapestry of flavour.

Sample local roti chanai – flaky Indian flatbread most often served with a delicious side sauce – and teh tarik, or ‘pulled tea’ – black tea with condensed milk, impressively poured between two cups to create a comforting, foamy drink.

Signature Highlight: LaZat Cooking Class

After your market visit, bring your ingredients to LaZat Cooking School on Kuala Lumpur’s jungle-fringed outskirts.

Committed to the preservation of authentic Malaysian cuisine, LaZat’s approachable style and core philosophy – that a simple recipe is more than just a meal, but also the social tapestry that keeps people together – has earned it a reputation as one of the country’s best cooking schools.

Your beginner-friendly class dives into two Malay favourites, beginning with Kuala Lumpur-style curry laksa – a spicy coconut-based noodle soup traditionally topped with fried tofu and fresh seafood. While there are countless other forms of laksa (you’ll have the chance to try another for comparison in Penang) the Kuala Lumpur style has a uniquely delicious flavour profile owing to its creamy broth.

For dessert, try your hand at onde-onde, or sweet rice cakes filled with palm sugar and tossed with fresh grated coconut.

After your cooking class, head to Bala’s Banana Leaf for another taste of Malaysia’s culinary heritage. This corner stall is one of the few remaining spots serving authentic Indian-Malaysian banana leaf rice and curry, a tradition originating in far-flung India and Sri Lanka. Considered a ‘weekend food’ in Malaysia – the perfect meal over which to catch up with friends – the curries are flavourful, textured and contrast wonderfully with the green banana leaf ‘plate’.

With a wide array of dishes to be devoured, you may find yourself sampling varied vegetable or fish curries, selections like mutton varuval popping with flavours of curry leaf, fennel and cracked pepper, plus a serving of ‘Chicken 65’ – bite-sized chicken pieces marinated in spiced yoghurt and deep-fried to perfection. Follow along with the locals and eat with your hands for an authentic experience.

After lunch, enjoy leisure at the hotel. This is the perfect time to enjoy a few drinks by the pool or lie down for a well-deserved nap.

Signature Highlight: Kampung Baru Walking Tour

Rejoin 20 of your fellow travellers later this afternoon and set off with Diana Chan on a walking tour through Kampung Baru, the last remaining Malay village in the city, led by a knowledgeable local guide. Preserved timber stilt-shacks stand against a backdrop of towering steel skyscrapers, with a pervasive sense of thoughtful slowness that stands in stark contrast to the fast-paced capital beyond this enchanting enclave.

Take a tour of the local community, culminating in the opportunity to eat your way through Kampung Baru’s famed hawker stalls. For dinner, you might choose to sample a smorgasbord of Malay specialties, including putu piring (rice flour cakes), apam balik (sugar-coated crispy rice pancakes) and satay skewers. Don’t miss your chance to try the village’s uniquely homestyle take on nasi lemak, Malaysia’s national dish.

Surrounded by an ever-expanding metropolis, a journey through Kampung Baru is an experience only Kuala Lumpur could offer.

Return to the hotel and enjoy the rest of the evening as you please, or choose to head out on an optional excursion to popular Vertigo Bar. Located on the top floor of the Banyan Tree Kuala Lumpur, this rooftop bar is renowned for its panoramic views of the city skyline, perfectly complemented by an exceptional cocktail list.

Please note: Day 2 and Day 3 dinner itineraries may be swapped. Travellers who follow the Day 3 itinerary on Day 2 will follow the Day 2 itinerary on Day 3. Both groups will experience Bijan restaurant and the Kampung Baru Walking Tour.

After breakfast, set out for another day of delicious discovery.

Signature Experience: Chinatown Walking Foodie Tour

You’ve tasted two of Malaysia’s enduring culinary influences – Indian and Malay cuisine – so it’s high time to explore Kuala Lumpur’s thriving Chinatown.

The hawker stalls here have been serving up mouthwatering delights for generations, though the neighbourhood is no stranger to new trends – fried chicken shops rub shoulders with old-school egg tart stalls, with more inventive restaurants opening every day.

Wander past legendary dim sum shops, century egg tart sellers and an array of alluring pastries, served with fresh kopitiam (coffee). Local juice bars squeeze light refreshments, while other vendors prepare delectable Chinese herbal tea, sweet potato balls, curry puffs and crispy coconut and peanut pancakes.

Elsewhere, historic hokkien noodles are prepared to showcase their signature smoky, savoury flavours topped with prawns, crunchy pork, shrimp and cabbage.

Signature Highlight: Lunch at Sek Yuen restaurant

Kuala Lumpur’s oldest Cantonese restaurant is an enduring temple to the magic of wok hei. ‘Hei’ means energy, or ‘breath’; therefore, wok hei means ‘the breath of the wok,’ referring not just to the charred, smoky flavours that emerge from a good wok toss but also the intangible essence of a correctly stir-fried meal. Ask any Cantonese chef and they’ll tell you that wok hei can make or break a dish.

Your menu may include signature roast duck, as well as other Chinese classics. Diana will join you for lunch, no doubt keen to share her own insights into this culinary art.

After lunch, witness Kuala Lumpur’s must-see sights on a city tour by coach, starting with a visit to the grand King’s Palace (Istana Negara), which officially became the National Palace in 2011. Continue past Parliament House and the National Monument at the scenic Lake Gardens, then look for the National Mosque, featuring a 73-metre minaret and connecting rail station.

Next, visit the star-shaped Chinese Thean Hou Temple, offering impressive views of the city. Continue to Dataran Merdeka (Independence Square), located in front of the Sultan Abdul Samad Building, where Malaysia declared itself independent from colonial forces on 31 August 1957. Conclude your sightseeing at the famed Petronas Towers, where you may choose to step inside for a closer look (surcharges apply).

Return to your hotel for an evening at leisure. The Mandarin Oriental Kuala Lumpur has you covered with top-tier dining venues. For prime cuts served with a distinctly Malaysian flair, the hotel’s modern steakhouse, Mandarin Grill, never disappoints.

Perhaps you’ll choose to finish the night at MO Bar, the hotel’s exceptional house of cocktails, for a signature ‘Malaysian Mojito’ – a wonderful elixir of rum, palm sugar, lime, prosecco and fresh mint. For acclaimed dining beyond the front doors, consider making a reservation at Dewakan Restaurant at Skyviews or booking a table at Eat and Cook.

Take the morning to indulge in the luxurious amenities of your hotel ahead of your transfer to Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL) and your included flight to Penang (PEN).

Located off the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia, Penang is considered one of Asia’s most culturally diverse destinations. Dubbed Malaysia’s food capital, Penang is well known for its scintillating culinary scene, palm-fringed beaches and cool hills, as well as its historic capital, George Town – a UNESCO World Heritage-listed site famed for its fascinating trading history.

After touchdown, you’ll be met by a local guide and transferred from Penang International Airport to the decadent Eastern & Oriental Hotel.

Signature Accommodation: Eastern & Oriental Hotel

Founded in 1885 by the Sarkies brothers – who would soon after establish Raffles Singapore, another enduring icon of old-world hospitality – Eastern & Oriental Hotel has welcomed distinguished guests in timeless style for over a century.

With captivating colonial-era architecture, top-class service and some of Penang’s most cherished fine-dining restaurants, the hotel has dazzled such literati as Herman Hesse, Rudyard Kipling and Noel Coward. It’s also the only historic hotel in George Town that boasts unrestricted views over the Andaman Sea.

Enjoy the afternoon at leisure – perhaps you’ll schedule a treatment at the hotel’s elegant day spa or settle into a plush leather sofa at Farquhar’s Bar, classic cocktail in hand, surrounded by oak and brass furnishings and views over Penang’s waterfront.

Signature Highlight: Dinner at Aunty Gaik Lean’s Old School Eatery

Peranakan cuisine is a dying art, but hardworking restaurants like Aunty Gaik Lean’s Old School Eatery are keeping it alive and well in the 21st century. Blending culinary traditions from the descendants of those early seafaring Chinese migrants who married into local Malay communities, the millennia-old secrets to Peranakan fusion have long been handed down orally from mother to daughter.

Tonight, you’ll taste immeasurable years of flavour refinement alongside your expert host, Diana. Spicy, salty, sour and sweet in all the right ways, Aunty Gaik Lean’s house-made curry pastes, uncompromising commitment to quality and closely guarded secret recipes have led the restaurant to become Malaysia’s sole Michelin-starred Peranakan restaurant. It doesn’t get better – or more authentic – than this.

Travel time: Driving – approx. 90 minutes / Flight – approx. one hour

Please note: Day 5 and Day 6 dinner itineraries may be swapped. Both groups of 20 will experience Aunty Gaik Lean’s Old School Eatery and Restaurant Au Jardin.

Wake early to a beautiful day in Penang, and the promise of another sensational walking foodie tour.

Signature Experience: Penang Foodie Walking Tour

This morning, fall in love with Penang’s culinary landscape and try the city’s best eats.

You may begin with a cup of steaming coffee at Khee Cheang Leong, a local kopitiam (coffee shop). The island is famed for its rich coffee culture, so now’s your chance to caffeinate like a local by ordering kopi-o (black coffee) or kopi peng (iced coffee with condensed milk).

Continue to Chowrasta Market, located in the heart of George Town, for a chance to browse the market’s abundant fresh produce, spices, snacks and mixed goods.

After wandering the eye-catching stalls, make your way to the acclaimed Moh Teng Pheow Nyonya Koay cafe for a sweet treat. Be sure to try the cafe’s exceptional kuih, or bite-sized sweet snacks – the restaurant is even connected to its very own kuih factory.

But Moh Teng Pheow Nyonya Koay’s biggest draw is undoubtedly its fantastic Penang-style asam laksa. Tangy, fiery and packed with flavour, this variety of noodle soup features a lighter broth than its Kuala Lumpur cousin, with the ingredients placed delicately atop the soup for diners to mix as they prefer.

This afternoon, return to your hotel for the rest of the afternoon spent freely. Perhaps head to the Eastern & Oriental Hotel’s Emporium for a little retail therapy or spend the day admiring views over the Andaman Sea from the vantage point of the central pool.

Signature Experience: Dinner at Restaurant Au Jardin

Tonight, prepare to experience Michelin-starred magic as you take your place at much-lauded Restaurant Au Jardin.

Hidden within an old George Town bus depot, you’ll find one of Penang’s most exquisite houses of fine dining. Executive chef Kim Hock Su’s degustation menu balances European au naturelle traditions and Penang delicacies with a decidedly sustainable bent – 85% of the restaurant’s produce is sourced directly from Malaysian farmers.

Restaurant Au Jardin is famed for numerous showstopping dishes, such as the cognac and hay-aged duck, presented in a hay-filled smoking box, accompanied with beetroot pickles and yuzu split jus, served on a bed of ultra-soft pomme puree (decadent, French-style mashed potato). Crispy, rich and perfectly balanced, every dish at Au Jardin is a work of culinary art.

Please note:

Day 6 and Day 7 lunch itineraries may be swapped. Travellers who follow the Day 7 itinerary on Day 6 will follow the Day 6 itinerary on Day 7. Both groups of 20 will experience the Cooking Class at Tropical Spice Garden and Penang Foodie Walking Tour.

Day 5 and Day 6 dinner itineraries may be swapped. Both groups of 20 will experience Aunty Gaik Lean’s Old School Eatery and Restaurant Au Jardin.

In the early 19th century, Penang was at the heart of Asia’s historic spice trade, and there’s no better place to uncover this history than at the Tropical Spice Garden.

Signature Highlight: Cooking Class at Tropical Spice Garden

Telling the story of Penang’s early history as a ‘spice island’, Tropical Spice Garden also explores its role in the expansion of colonial power in the region, set amid eight acres of lush jungle gardens on a still-quiet part of the island overlooking the Straits of Malacca. Here, discover Penang history across a series of peaceful paths and tranquil waterways. It’s as if you’re exploring a garden transplanted from another time.

Splitting into two groups, you will enjoy two exciting experiences:

• A guided garden walk, with a knowledgeable guide teaching you about the region’s herbs, spices and its fascinating history.
• A cooking class, preparing dishes like authentic Malaysian chicken curry; roti jala, a warm savoury crepe; and sago gula melaka, a delicious chewy dessert drizzled with palm sugar syrup. Diana will be joining you in the kitchen while you prepare your dishes.

Rejoining the rest of your group, you’ll have the opportunity to taste the fruits of your labours over lunch.

Return to the hotel for a few hours spent as you please, then later take a guided tour of Cheong Fatt Tze’s ‘Blue Mansion’ – one of George Town’s most beloved architectural gems.

Built in the late 19th century by the industrialist, first-class scholar and business mogul of the same name – at one point Cheong Fatt Tze was called ‘the richest man in the Malayas’ – it’s a spectacular architectural achievement. With no expense spared, and the benefit of Feng Shui masters’ consultations during construction, the Blue Mansion features a beautifully restored reception hall, courtyard and second-floor museum exhibit.

Signature Highlight: Farewell Dinner at Indigo

Located on the Blue Mansion’s first floor, Indigo is inspired by Cheong Fatt Tze himself, with a dinner menu that merges the tycoon’s cultures and philosophies from his time in Penang.

Each course is thoughtfully considered and exquisitely plated. With Diana and your fellow travellers by your sides, dinner at Indigo is a fitting farewell to your Singapore and Malaysia flavour odyssey.

Back at your hotel, the rest of the evening is at your leisure.

Please note: Day 6 and Day 7 lunch itineraries may be swapped. Travellers who follow the Day 7 itinerary on Day 6 will follow the Day 6 itinerary on Day 7. Both groups of 20 will experience the Cooking Class at Tropical Spice Garden and Penang Foodie Walking Tour.

Bid farewell to your fellow travellers as your once-in-a-lifetime Malaysian culinary journey comes to an end. After breakfast, you’ll be transferred to Penang International Airport (PEN). Checkout on your final day is at 12pm.

Departure & Transfers:

Checkout on your final day is at 12pm. Please book your flights to depart from Penang International Airport (PEN) at any time today. Airport transfers are included on the last day of your tour. Your transfer will meet you at your hotel and take you to the airport.