SE Asia Culinary Journey (2024)

Jan. 20 — Jan. 31, 2024
12 days
4/12 spots booked
BOOK WITH CONFIDENCE: To reserve your spot on a tour, a $500 deposit will be required. However, you can book with complete peace of mind as this deposit will be refundable - minus a 3% transaction fee - for 30 days (or until 90 days before the tour starts, whichever comes first).
Join us on an unforgettable food-focused adventure in Southeast Asia, where we will uncover the culinary secrets of Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore!
Dive deep into the incredible food markets of Bangkok
Travel back in time through the ancient city of Ayutthaya
Get ready for the vast foodie scene of Kuala Lumpur, with some of the best food in the world
Enjoy time exploring the gorgeous Cameron Highlands of Malaysia
Visit a tea plantation to learn about the process of making the finest teas
Spoil yourself with the delicious cuisine of Singapore, with its Chinese, Indian, Malaysian and Indonesian influences

Calling all foodies and travel enthusiasts! This trip is a chance to embark on a culinary adventure through Southeast Asia, where you’ll be immersed in the traditional food culture of each location, while also exploring some of the wonderful sights.

Our journey will take us through Bangkok, Ayutthaya, Kuala Lumpur, the Cameron Highlands and Singapore. You’ll discover the secrets of traditional tea plantations and meet local chefs who serve up dishes that will remain etched in your memory forever. You’ll indulge in the explosion of flavors and spices at sprawling markets and enjoy the absolute best street food on the planet. There will be a variety of excellent restaurant experiences, a cooking class and trips to famous local eateries that few visitors ever reach.

Throughout the tour, you’ll be in the company of like-minded travelers who share your passion for adventure and culinary exploration. This food tour is an exclusive opportunity to experience Southeast Asia through food, leaving you with a newfound appreciation for the rich culture and gastronomy of this captivating region of the world!

Reserve now!
Choose an option:
Clear Selection
Pay a deposit of $500 per item
  • 1
    Jan 20Bangkok (arrival day)
    Bangkok (arrival day)
    Arrival day
    Included: Dinner
    Upon arrival, you’ll be picked up at the airport and taken to our hotel in the city center. After getting settled and having a good rest, we’ll start off with an evening orientation and a group dinner at one of the city’s best restaurants.
  • 2
    Jan 21Bangkok
    Bangkok
    Highlights: Full-day tour of Bangkok's highlights and markets
    Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
    Today we'll begin by immersing ourselves in Bangkok's culture and cuisine on a full-day tour. Our first stop will be the stunning Grand Palace, a complex of ornate buildings and temples that served as the official residence of the Kings of Siam. We'll also visit Wat Phra Kaew, home to the famous Emerald Buddha, and admire the majestic Reclining Buddha at Wat Pho. After taking in the city's top attractions, we'll dive into the vibrant and bustling food scene that the city is famous for. Our expert guide will lead us through the labyrinthine Chatuchak Market, where we'll sample a variety of delicious street food from the most sought after food stalls. We'll also visit the colorful flower market and the lively Chinatown, where we'll spend time food-tasting in a hidden food market that serves up some unique fusion cuisine. In the evening, we'll head to a famous local restaurant in a neighborhood far away from the tourists crowds, followed by some fun local nightlife.
  • 3
    Jan 22Bangkok
    Bangkok
    Highlights: Floating Market Tour, dinner at Jay Fai
    Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
    In the morning you'll begin with a unique food tour that includes Bangkok's famous floating markets. We'll start with a boat ride through the canals, where you'll witness the vibrant and colorful atmosphere of these bustling markets. We'll sample a variety of delicious Thai dishes, such as boat noodles, grilled seafood, fresh tropical fruits and traditional sweets. Upon return from the markets, you'll have several optional activities that your tour leader will arrange for you, depending on your interests. In the evening, get ready for a meal at Jay Fai, one of the most famous street food restaurants in Bangkok, to savor some of the most iconic dishes of Thai cuisine. This legendary eatery is run by a charismatic 72-year-old woman who has been perfecting her recipes for over 50 years. We'll try some of her signature dishes, including crab omelet, drunken noodles and stir-fried crab meat with curry powder. It's a dining experience that you won't forget!
  • 4
    Jan 23Bangkok » Ayutthaya » Bangkok
    Bangkok » Ayutthaya » Bangkok
    Highlights: Ayutthaya
    Included: Breakfast, Lunch
    Today we'll take a full day trip to Ayutthaya, the former capital of Thailand. Once a thriving city, it was destroyed and abandoned in the 18th century. It is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site filled with mesmerizing ruins and temples. We'll visit the iconic sites such as Wat Mahathat, Wat Phra Sri Sanphet and Wat Chaiwatthanaram, and learn about the rich history of this ancient site. We'll return to Bangkok in the evening, where you'll have a free evening before we head to Malaysia the next day.
  • 5
    Jan 24Bangkok » Kuala Lumpur
    Bangkok » Kuala Lumpur
    Highlights: Flight to Kuala Lumpur, introduction tour
    Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
    After a short 2 hour flight to Kuala Lumpur, we'll check in to our hotel and get settled in our rooms. Once we're ready, off we'll go into the heart of KL for lunch, where the city's famous food hawker markets await. After lunch, we'll go for a walk through the center of KL, known as Bukit Bintang, where all kinds of stalls, massive shopping malls, street vendors and markets all come together to create quite a scene. Our evening meal will be a traditional Malay dinner at a famous award-winning local restaurant.
  • 6
    Jan 25Kuala Lumpur
    Kuala Lumpur
    Highlights: Walking tour of Kuala Lumpur
    Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
    We'll begin the day with a guided tour of Kuala Lumpur's iconic landmarks and attractions. We'll visit the Petronas Twin Towers, the tallest twin towers in the world and learn about their unique design and construction. We'll also have a chance to soak up a little nature in the beautiful KLCC Park nearby. Next, we'll explore the lively Central Market where traditional crafts are on display, the beautiful Jamek Mosque (one of the oldest and most important mosques in Kuala Lumpur) and the Batu Caves on the outskirts of the city. After a late afternoon rest, we'll head out for another dining treat that is specially arranged for us by our local foodie friends in KL.
  • 7
    Jan 26Kuala Lumpur
    Kuala Lumpur
    Highlights: Food tour of Kuala Lumpur
    Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
    Today we'll get a little more specific with the food culture as we begin with a food tasting tour led by a local foodie guide. You'll sample a variety of traditional dishes, such as nasi lemak, satay and roti canai, at some of the city's most iconic food stalls and markets. In the afternoon, you'll also have some free time to enjoy the city on your own if you wish. Once the evening comes around, we'll head to the Petaling street market for a traditional Chinese dinner, before visiting some of Kuala Lumpur's hidden speakeasies, where you can sip on unique cocktails while taking in the city's vibrant nightlife scene.
  • 8
    Jan 27Kuala Lumpur » Cameron Highlands
    Kuala Lumpur » Cameron Highlands
    Highlights: Walking tour of Kuala Lumpur
    Included: Breakfast, Dinner
    Our journey this morning begins with a 3.5-hour drive out of the city and into the tranquil countryside as we head to the Cameron Highlands. Our first stop in this region known for its rolling green hills and laid-back way of life, will be at a tea plantation, where we'll enjoy a guided tour of the fields and learn about the entire tea-making process. After sampling a variety of tea, we'll head to the nearby local markets for lunch, where we'll dine on a variety of traditional Malaysian dishes, including piping hot noodles, succulent satay skewers and fresh seafood. We'll then check in to our hotel and you'll have some free time to explore the beautiful surroundings with a nature walk or wander through the nearby villages. In the evening, we'll all gather for a traditional steamboat dinner, enjoying the warm, comforting flavors of the Malaysian hotpot.
  • 9
    Jan 28Cameron Highlands
    Cameron Highlands
    Highlights: Strawberry farm, Mossy Forest, honey farm
    Included: Breakfast, Lunch
    With a full day in the Cameron Highlands, we have some excellent activities lined up. First, we'll visit a local strawberry farm, where we'll have the opportunity to pick fresh strawberries straight from the fields. We'll learn about the process of cultivating these delicious berries and have a chance to taste some of the sweetest strawberries in the region. Next up...a journey to the Mossy Forest, an enchanting ecosystem filled with a diverse range of plants and wildlife. We'll take a relaxed hike through the forest, marveling at the abundance of flora and fauna that thrive in this misty, ethereal environment. After a lunch break of local treats, we'll head to a honey farm to discover the fascinating process of honey production. We'll sample the finest honey in the region and learn about the essential role of bees in our ecosystem. We'll even have the opportunity to take home a jar of delicious honey as a sweet souvenir. We'll then return to our hotel for a relaxed evening before we make the trip to Singapore the next day.
  • 10
    Jan 29Cameron Highlands » Kuala Lumpur » Singapore
    Cameron Highlands » Kuala Lumpur » Singapore
    Highlights: Drive to Kuala Lumpur, flight to Singapore
    Included: Breakfast, Dinner
    We'll start the day with a 3.5-hour ride to the Kuala Lumpur airport. We'll have a quick lunch before boarding our 1 hour flight to Singapore. Once we land, we'll transfer straight to our hotel so that we can get settled before heading out. Singapore is world-renowned for its mix of cultural influences, resulting in an eclectic array of dishes such as laksa, Hainanese chicken rice, and chili crab. From hawker centers to Michelin-starred restaurants, Singapore offers a diverse range of dining options to satisfy any palate...and we're going to experience much of it! We'll start with dinner at a local restaurant serving up a variety of dishes, with a long line of people always waiting to get inside for a delicious meal.
  • 11
    Jan 30Singapore
    Singapore
    Highlights: Food tour of Singapore, sightseeing, farewell dinner, Gardens by the Bay lightshow
    Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
    Today we'll have a full and exciting day in this city! Our food tour will take us to a variety of neighborhoods, including Chinatown, Little India and Kampong Glam, each offering their own distinct flavors and culinary specialties. We'll sample food everywhere we go, as we also learn about the each area's history and culture. During the tour, we'll visit temples, mosques, markets, famous Orchard Avenue, the botanical gardens and more, giving you a complete experience of this city. After the day's tour comes to an end in the evening, we'll head over to the Marina Bay Sands - a luxury hotel with incredible views from the rooftop. This is where we'll have our farewell group dinner, right in one of the city's absolute best restaurants. After dinner, we'll walk over to the Gardens by the Bay nearby. From here we'll witness the delightful night-time display of sound and light as we wander through the three magical waterfront gardens, all offering a perfect end to our magical trip through the region.
  • 12
    Jan 31Singapore (departure day)
    Singapore (departure day)
    Highlights: Departure day
    Included: Breakfast
    You will be picked up at the hotel by a private driver who will take you to the airport for your departing flight.

Tour Essentials

Medium Physical Level
While the tour itself is not very strenuous, please note that it can involve the following: somewhat long days, a good amount of walking, being in the sun in potentially hot temperatures, long journeys, early morning wake-ups and other similar scenarios.
Accommodation
We'll stay in 3* and 4* hotels during this trip. Accommodation is mid-range and all rooms have a private bathroom. There is a maximum of 6 single rooms available, offered on a first come-first served basis. The remainder of the rooms will be shared. Solo travelers will be paired together, two travelers per room in two single beds. (*Please note: If you book a shared room and we cannot find another traveler to share that room, there will be an extra surcharge for having a single room.)
Transport
During the trip, we'll get around with a combination of comfortable vans, public transportation and short flights between countries.
Meals
Breakfast every day, 8 lunches and 9 dinners are included. With included meals, some will be served family style, others will involve food tasting at several places and other times you will be able to order anything you wish from the menu. All dietary restrictions can be accommodated.
Sustainability
As with all of our trips, we aim to offer as sustainable an experience as we can. Reusable water bottles and shopping bags are provided to all guests, trash is recycled where possible and we avoid mass tourism activities that cause harm to the environment and/or do not benefit local communities.
Small Groups
This tour requires a minimum of 8 participants and has a maximum of 12 participants in order to ensure the best small group tour experience. With such a small group, you'll be able to enjoy unique, rewarding activities that would not be accessible with more people. That's the kind of trip we love to offer!

What's included

Included
  • Wandering Earl Tours Expert Tour Leader
  • Small group (maximum 12 participants)
  • Accommodation (11 nights – 3*/4* hotels and a guesthouse)
  • Transportation within Southeast Asia (vans, public transportation and flights)
  • Local English-speaking guides
  • All mentioned activities and entrance fees
  • Breakfast every day, 8 lunches and 9 dinners
  • Water throughout the trip
  • Gratuities at hotels/included meals
  • All airport transfers
Not Included
  • Flights to/from Bangkok and Singapore
  • Passport/visa fees
  • Meals and activities not mentioned
  • Travel insurance (mandatory)
  • Other gratuities