Best of Singapore & Bali

This morning, your private guide will greet you at your hotel and then show you around Singapore via its well-connected public transit.

We’ll tick off Merlion Park first, the country’s most iconic landmark. Snap postcard-perfect shots with the Merlion statue as your guide shares its legendary tale: when a violent storm once hit the island, this mythical creature emerged to calm the winds and waves. Standing before it now, you can almost sense the strength of modern Singapore, a global financial hub that embodies the lion’s courage and fish’s resilience.

Next stop is Gardens by the Bay, the world’s largest urban garden blending nature, art, and high tech. You’ll first be enchanted by the towering Supertree Grove, inspired by colossal tropical giants draped in lush epiphytes and climbers. 
★ Tour Bonus: We’ve specially included entry to the site’s two famous cooled conservatories. Stroll through the Flower Dome, the world’s largest glasshouse, and appreciate rare flora from five continents, from African baobabs to Mediterranean herbs. Dive into the Cloud Forest, a simulated tropical mountain housing over 200,000 tropical plants, and follow the citrusy scent to spot monkey-faced orchids.

Later, let’s immerse ourselves in Chinatown, once an enclave of early Chinese immigrants and now a lively cultural and culinary hub. Roam the streets with your guide to seek out vibrant wall murals that bring local life to the page: an old workshop stacked with lion dance gear, a tricycle loaded with opera masks and artisanal puppets, and an elder busily writing Spring Festival couplets. Stop by Buddha Tooth Relic Temple to behold the sacred tooth relic of Sakyamuni Buddha, then follow tempting scents into a lively hawker center to discover Michelin-listed Hainanese chicken rice, silky tofu pudding, and old-school coffee.

Let’s then plunge into Kampong Glam, a cultural heartland built by Muslim settlers from Arabia and the Malay Archipelago. Here, witness a fascinating symbiosis of age-old religious tradition and bold street art. The stately Sultan Mosque stands in stark contrast to Haji Lane’s graffiti-blanketed walls just a short hop away. While the call to prayer drifts through the neighborhood, visitors may savor coffee in cafes restored from vintage British colonial buildings.

Today’s adventure will end at Little India, a vibrant pocket steeped in true Indian buzz. Stepping inside, you’ll find an astonishing cluster of gold stores filled with dainty gold chains, intricately detailed bracelets, and colorful gemstone earrings. Your guide will tell you that gold stands as the ultimate emblem of affluence for Indians. Also, cast your eyes upon floral garlands woven from jasmine, roses, and marigolds. Besides being offered at the nearby Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple, these blooms are usually worn daily by locals on their heads and wrists to show their devotion.

In the end, your guide will escort you back to your hotel by MRT metro. 

Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: Orchid Hotel, Singapore (4 stars) or similar

After breakfast at your hotel, catch a taxi or the MRT to Singapore Changi Airport by yourself. There, board your 2.5-hour flight to Bali of Indonesia, which we’ve booked and included in your package. Upon arrival, your local driver will pick you up and escort you straight to your hotel in Kuta. The rest of the afternoon is yours to freely explore this tropical island, famed for its charming beaches and distinct Hindu heritage.

► Free Time Inspiration (at your own expense):
If time permits, walk a few minutes to Kuta Beach for a breathtaking sunset. Watch the sun slowly sink over the western horizon, bathing the whole sky in blended gold, pink, and orange hues. Next, explore Legian Street for authentic local bites like Indonesian fried rice, grilled pork ribs, and satay skewers. Also, browse streetside boutiques with traditional wood carvings, dreamcatchers, and artisanal silver jewelry.

► Travel Hacks:
1. Bali’s official currency is the Indonesian rupiah (IDR), with USD 1 worth around IDR 17,949. You can bring US cash and exchange money at authorized Kuta exchange offices such as Central Kuta, PT. Dirgahayu Valuta Prima, and BMC. Most large hotels and shopping malls support Visa and Mastercard.
2. Compared to international roaming, a local SIM card is much easier. Telkomsel comes first thanks to its reliable signal and extensive coverage. Its retail stores are available within Lippo Mall Kuta, Discovery Shopping Mall, Beachwalk Shopping Center, and Kuta Square.

Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: Sheraton Bali Kuta Resort (5 stars) or similar

★ Exclusive Treat: Classic Balinese Barong and Keris Dance

This morning, after meeting your private guide and driver at your hotel, let’s enjoy a 1.5-hour drive to admire the captivating Barong and Keris dance. As one of the most popular traditional dances, it narrates the endless fight between good and evil, set to the beat of rousing gamelan melodies. Watch as the fluffy lion-like mythical beast Balong stands firm to defend the good, whereas the vicious witch Rangda creates havoc. When a male dancer stabs himself with a sharp keris sword yet remains unharmed, you’ll be spellbound by the enduring mystery of faith and magic.

Later, we’ll continue to Sangeh Monkey Forest, a serene hidden gem boasting over 600 long-tailed macaques. As you meander beneath a leafy canopy of tall nutmeg trees, slow down to observe these sacred primates romping with each other and grooming. Despite their usually gentle nature, it’s better to remove your hat and glasses before entering to avoid any unexpected grabs of your belongings.

Next up is the UNESCO-listed Taman Ayun Temple, a former royal garden temple built over 400 years ago. Once inside, the circular waterway encircling this Hindu temple unfolds before you, evoking the mythical image of a “floating sanctuary on the holy river”. Let’s walk through its three-tiered areas, as if undertaking a pilgrimage from earthly life to the divine: foreground lawns and fountains mark the mortal world; the transitional zone features dozens of low shrines; the very core is the most sacred inner sanctum, where you can appreciate ancestral altars and multi-tiered Meru towers.

Finally, proceed to the 16th-century Tanah Lot Temple, a seaside shrine dedicated to the sea god atop a gigantic coastal rock. At high tide, seawater washes over the rocky pathway to the temple, making it look like a lone drifting vessel from afar. With your guide’s vivid storytelling, you’ll learn that shortly after its construction, the place was battered by enormous waves. A revered monk threw his sash into the sea, and it turned into two sea snakes that quieted the raging storm. Since then, they have acted as the temple’s guardian deities.

As the day concludes, your guide and driver will accompany you back to your Kuta hotel in roughly 1.5 hours. 

Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: Sheraton Bali Kuta Resort (5 stars) or similar

There are no guided activities arranged for today. 

► Free Time Inspiration (at your own expense):
Our handpicked hotel sits close to Kuta Beach, boasting sweeping turquoise waters and soft white sand. You can wake up naturally in the morning and head to the beach to enjoy sunbathing or take a surfing lesson with a seasoned local pro. As twilight settles in, sip a local Bintang beer at a beachside bar, while unwinding with the sea breeze blowing. Also, delve into the opposite Beachwalk Shopping Center, which offers everything from international brands to a rich selection of global cuisines.

Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: Sheraton Bali Kuta Resort (5 stars) or similar

After breakfast, your driver will pick you up from your hotel lobby and escort you to Bali’s airport. Thank you for traveling with us! For extra guided tours to Nusa Penida, Seminyak, or Ubud, feel free to contact our consultants to create your personalized itinerary.

Meal: Breakfast