There are few experiences that capture the romance of rail travel quite like the Eastern & Oriental Express. On its latest iteration, the Wild Malaysia journey, Belmond reimagines the golden age of slow travel with a four-day adventure that traverses rainforest-cloaked terrain, cultural capitals, and coastal towns. From the moment the forest-green train glides out of Singapore, guests are ushered into a different pace of life—one where brass finishes glint under soft lighting, where velvet upholstery invites pause, and where the landscapes beyond the carriage windows become meditative theatre. In this world of teak and time, there is nowhere to rush to.
The train’s interiors echo an era where craftsmanship spoke louder than excess. Pullman cabins offer an intimate retreat, while State Cabins and the indulgent Presidential Suites provide expanded comfort and space, each with plush bedding that transforms from seating by day to sleeping quarters at night. Panoramic windows invite uninterrupted views of Malaysia’s tropical heartlands, framed by handcrafted wooden panels and tasteful Art Deco accents. The Piano Bar Car is a lounge of soft jazz and classic cocktails, where bartenders mix nightcaps to the soundtrack of 1930s swing. The Observation Car, with its open-air deck, offers a rare chance to take in the landscape al fresco, while the Dior Spa Car brings a new kind of luxury to the rails, offering bespoke treatments to the rhythm of the tracks.
Even the ambient details are considered. The scent of the cabins is clean and crisp, and the use of natural woods and brass evokes the glamour of an earlier age. Music plays softly in the background, from Ella Fitzgerald leading into Nat King Cole, giving the carriages a living-room intimacy, enhanced by the hush of motion and the occasional clink of glassware.
Day One: From Singapore to the Malayan Heartland
Guests begin the journey at Singapore’s Woodlands station, boarding the Eastern & Oriental Express in the early afternoon. After being welcomed with a glass of Veuve Clicquot and escorted to their cabins by name, the journey eases into motion with Champagne afternoon tea served in the Malaya Restaurant Car. Delicate cucumber sandwiches, fruit tarts and buttery madeleines are served on bone china, setting the tone for what is to come.
Dinner is the first of many culinary chapters curated by Chef André Chiang. Known for his refined interpretations of Southeast Asian ingredients through a French lens, Chiang’s menu is an elegant introduction to the journey’s theme. Menus are seasonal and rotate with precision, each meal comprising three meticulously executed courses. That evening, diners enjoyed delicacies like otoro salad niçoise with André’s signature kimchi, kampot pepper sauces, and locally sourced produce plated with restraint and finesse. The wine pairings were equally well-considered, ranging from crisp whites to elegant reds.
Pre-dinner drinks were taken in the Piano Bar Car, where guests explored the signature cocktail menu—classics reimagined with Asian botanicals. One standout was the Jungle Gimlet, blending kaffir lime, lemongrass and dry gin. Another, the Malay Negroni, used a local cacao nib–infused vermouth. Bartenders were skilled and intuitive, creating bespoke cocktails with ease.
Day Two: Taman Negara and Wellness in the Jungle
Breakfast in bed begins the second day. As the train nears Merapoh, guests are welcomed by local high school performers with a traditional kompang and tarian piring performance. The excursion to Taman Negara is the journey’s wellness highlight. Guests may choose yoga with a Penang-based instructor, a forest bathing session, or sound healing deep within the jungle. Other options include a conservation-focused jungle trek and wildlife interpretation walks.
Returning to the train, lunch is served in Adisorn Restaurant Car, the modern complement to the more traditional Malaya. Menus continue Chiang’s culinary journey—tamarind and galangal consommés, kampung chicken in lemongrass broth, and thoughtful East-meets-West compositions. Afternoon features a coffee omakase in the Observation Car, followed by classic tea service in the Piano Bar. After dinner in Adisorn, guests gather for a lively karaoke session in the Observation Car.
Day Three: Penang Heritage and Dior Spa Indulgence
Breakfast is followed by a ferry crossing into George Town, where guests explore Penang by trishaw at their own pace. Some follow food trails, others tour galleries. Nicholas opted for curry mee and a nostalgic visit to Chew Clan Jetty. Lunch onboard is followed by an afternoon tea with Nyonya kueh from Moh Teng Peow, a thoughtful nod to Penang’s culinary roots.
Guests indulge in Dior Spa treatments during the afternoon. We selected the D-Tissue massage, delivered by a Balinese therapist using long strokes and botanical oils. The spa offers treatments tailored to travellers—restorative, hydrating, and deeply relaxing. A brief stop in Ipoh allows for a short walk before the train continues south.
The gala dinner that night brings everything together. Guests dine on Chiang’s final menu as live vocals and piano play from the adjacent bar. Stories are shared, toasts are made, and the slow rhythm of the train marks the close of a remarkable experience.
Day Four: The Journey Ends, The Memory Lingers
The final day begins with the soft morning light filtering through the cabin windows as the train glides south through Johor. Breakfast is served once more in the Malaya Restaurant Car—a last indulgence of fresh pastries, tropical fruit, with dim sum, accompanied by the gentle hum of conversation and the distant whistle of the train. Guests linger over their coffee, savouring these last moments cocooned in comfort as the train pulls into Woodlands station mid-morning.
There’s a quiet sense of introspection across the carriages. By now, the staff have become familiar, the routes second nature, and the rhythm of rail travel something cherished. Some guests take one final walk to the open-air Observation Car, breathing in the morning air, watching as suburban Singapore slowly comes into view. Others return to their cabins, where stewards have already begun the subtle work of preparing for disembarkation.
Service That Sets the Standard
Service aboard the Eastern & Oriental Express is among the finest in Malaysia, characterised by genuine warmth, emotional intelligence, and meticulous attention to detail. From handwritten turndown notes to bartenders who remember your favourite drink, every interaction feels deeply personal and thoughtfully timed. Stewards appear just when needed, offering a fresh towel, a quiet check-in, or simply a knowing smile. Rather than a scripted performance, the hospitality feels intuitive and heartfelt—an experience that many guests say defines the journey. In a world where true attentiveness is increasingly rare, the Eastern & Oriental Express sets a quietly exceptional standard.
Closing Reflection: The Art of Slow Living
Wild Malaysia is more than a journey. It is a reminder that luxury can be measured not only in opulence, but in time, space and sincerity. The Eastern & Oriental Express delivers just that, an escape into the art of slow living, one finely crafted moment at a time.