Heading East For A Cultural Feast: Singapore, Siem Reap & Khao Lak!
I love trying the itineraries we have featured on our website, getting to experience the same holidays our clients do. I also have a love for the Far East, something about the fusion of ancient temples, futuristic skylines and street food smells. That’s why I picked the Singapore, Siem Reap and Thai Beach holiday for my last trip to the Far East, and it was one of the best trips I’ve ever made.



The flight was long, although thankfully we’d booked into a great hotel, where a refreshing shower perked us right back up. Booming, buzzing, strikingly diverse and humbly traditional all at once, Singapore is a place where the glare of dragon idols is just as piercing as the dizzying sky bars, but our first move was to explore immediate surrounds. We were in China Town, home to the Buddha Tooth Relic and Sri Mariamman Temples.
“Even travel experts don’t know everything, so it was a surprise to find that downtown Singapore was a no-go zone for cars on Sunday mornings. It gave the city an eerily deserted feel, which was amazing to see, and to experience the area slowly coming to life as morning joggers and market vendors emerged.”
We explored every inch of China Town. Pagoda and Smith Street had clearly been dressed up for tourists, but it was great to compare this against smaller, tightly packed streets and sample Hainanese chicken rice (knowing full well we’d be finding a restaurant for dinner). From the vast indoor markets and pagoda backdrops to the more westernised bars of Club Street, we meandered around taking in the sights and sounds. Being in walking distance from Clark Quay’s nightlife, we knew we could easily squeeze in Gardens By The Bay’s still water magic and Supertrees. A rain shower here was oddly refreshing- our second shower, if you will, before putting on our tourist hats and heading to the world-renowned Raffles Hotel for a Singapore Sling.
Singapore’s skyline is defined by the high rises of the newly built Marina Bay district, home to roof terraces with panoramic city views and malls- although Orchard Road’s designer mecca is where any fashionista wants to be. We spent the rest of our Singapore stay straddling The Southern Ridges’ treetop canopy bridges for some lush greenery before sampling the delights of Little India.
Reaping The Benefits Of Cambodia’s Siem Reap
My first thought after our Singapore-Siem Reap flight: “It’s so much better than the pictures”. Basking in the golden glow of the Cambodian sun, the gateway to the Angkor Wat hits you with a bang. Over 100 temples dating back to the 9th century don’t mince their words here when it comes to their “Eighth Wonder of the World” status. Larger-than-life Buddha heads and orange-clad monks bring a stillness to the vast lawns, but bustling tuk-tuks and children riding bicycles are never far away.



“Doing the biking the temples tour was an amazing experience. Cycling through jungle tracks, feeling a million miles from anywhere, we approached the temples from a different direction to the other tourists. It was as humbling and inspiring as it was beautiful”.
The freshwater Tonlé Sap Lake the next day was a perfect contrast. Floating villages on stilts here are a way of life, and both my partner and I were struck by how friendly the fishermen locals were. The kids even have mini paddle boats to get from A to B, and they were way more skilled than either of us would have been, but luckily we had a driver.



Back in Siem Reap we decided to give the touristy Street Food Tours a miss and wing it, losing ourselves under overflowing catfish baskets, skewered bananas and translucent rice vermicelli being prepared in front of our eyes. We agreed that the 4-night stay was just perfect for fitting everything in and relaxing in our hotel.
The 7-Night Beach Stay That Couldn’t Have Been A More Perfect End
We’d definitely noticed the region’s heat throughout Singapore and Siem Reap (air-conditioned hotels really are a godsend), so after all that sightseeing, we were looking forward to 7 nights of Thai beaches. Flying out to Phuket, we could already see the emerald and turquoise-clear waters from the plane. Crystalline seas doesn’t even begin to describe what awaited us in the blissfully unspoiled resort of Khao Lak. Feet in the water, we walked the white-sand stretches for miles. We also took a day to bike out on the peninsula, stopping here and there for splashing waterfalls and an insight into village life.



Lapping shores by day, vibrant pulse by night. Khao Lak Road and the less tourist-geared area behind Bang Niang market gave us the best of both worlds, with live bar music and flowing drinks into the early hours. It doesn’t get rowdy, though, a much more relaxed pace than some of the well-known resorts on Phuket. Either way, we loved every single minute of it. I’d say that Phuket’s range of international flights are a bonus, but honestly, it’s the experience I’m remembering.
If you’d like your own version of this unimaginably beautiful yet relaxing multi centre holiday, do get in touch and we can get to work crafting it for you.
Why choose eShores?

One to One Service
Our experienced personal travel consultants will ensure you find the most suitable holiday, whilst taking care of every last detail. Everything from start to finish will be effortless.

100% Tailor Made
We can use any hotel, in any destination, so we will craft an itinerary to suit your exact needs. Also, as we can provide any itinerary, the only holiday we'll offer, is the one that's right for you.

Fully Protected
Our ATOL bonding provides you with the financial protection you need and as a member of the Travel Trust Association, you'll have 100% financial protection. Covering you for any eventuality.

Competitive Pricing
As a tour operator & travel agent, we'll search the market to ensure that we find you the best price. Also as an online business, we can ensure our prices are as competitive as possible.






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Frances
Kadie is there for us on every occasion and delivers whatever we are looking for in an efficient and friendly way that cannot be beaten.
Posted 6 days ago -
Grant
I contacted eShores on a reccomendation and I was not dissapointed. The level of service was the best I have encountered. Needless to say we have booked our holiday with them. A special thanks to Laura who was very helpful and understanding of our needs. Many Thanks Grant J
Posted 1 week ago -
Anthony
As always, a thoroughly professional service. We have booked a number of times through e shores and they endeavour to go the extra mile to ensure complete satisfaction
Posted 1 week ago -
Julie
We cannot thank Emily at eShores enough for her outstanding service in planning our holiday to Kuala Lumpur and Langkawi next March. From the moment we made our initial enquiry online, she was quick to follow up with a phone call. Emily listened attentively as we shared our interests in multiple-centre destinations and our preferred travel dates. With her first-hand experience in one of the locations, she provided invaluable advice that helped us make informed decisions. She sent us an initial quote that included various hotel options across different budgets, allowing us to choose what suited us best. Throughout the planning process, we exchanged numerous questions and queries, and Emily always responded with warmth and patience, making us feel that nothing was too much trouble. Her approachable and supportive communication made the experience enjoyable, and we felt guided every step of the way. Thanks to Emily, we have a fantastic booking in place, complete with all transfers from the airports to our hotels organised seamlessly. We’re extremely excited about our upcoming trip without the stress of planning it ourselves. We highly recommend Emily and eShores to anyone looking to book a holiday. Thank you, Emily, for making this process so easy and enjoyable! Best wishes, Julie and Paul Jackson
Posted 1 week ago -
DerekMichael
Prompt and efficient service, catering to our requirements.
Posted 1 week ago -
Rebecca
We haven't taken our holiday, yet but to date our consultant, Rachel, has been fantastic! Rachel has delivered on all communication promises, always contacting us as promised. She has been more than happy to answer all questions, even daft ones, and been incredibly professional at all times. If our holiday is as good as the service recieved to date then we will be thrilled to bits.
Posted 1 week ago -
Anonymous
Efficient, helpful and friendly service from Nick who understood what we were looking for and made excellent suggestions. Easy booking process.
Posted 1 week ago -
CarolynMary
I have only just booked my trip to Italy with eShores and paid my deposit. I hope that all will go well in September but I can't comment on that yet. However, I can comment about your travel advisor, Nick. He has been absolutely excellent throughout. I originally contacted you in November about a different holiday in Italy but had to pause proceedings when my inheritance didn't come through soon enough. Nick had designed and tweaked the trip and was so patient and helpful with my questions and changes. Then when I changed the trip in April again he was so helpful and patient. He is a credit to your company!
Posted 2 weeks ago -
Latif
Laura , spent alot of time as i changed holiday location pleased , booked for september 2025 to Eastern Algarve. paid deposit. request for balance 12 weeks before travel. British Airways holiday bookings ask for balance 4 weeks prior to travel . eShores ought to mirror BA for competitinion,
Posted 2 weeks ago -
Jane
Excellent service...they arranged our trip quickly and we're available to make amendments as required. Very good efficient service
Posted 2 weeks ago