Meet your private guide for morning pickup at your Singapore hotel, and head first to Chinatown, Singapore’s vibrant Chinese enclave, by private, air-conditioned vehicle.
Stop at the Thian Hock Keng Temple, one of the city’s oldest Hokkien temples. Head inside to explore the extravagant courts and halls, and learn how it was once the first port of call for Chinese sailors arriving in Singapore.
Next, visit the Singapore City Gallery on the edges of Chinatown, charting the development of the city over the past 50 years through the fascinating architectural models.
Travel to Sago Lane, the narrow street known as the ‘Street of the Dead.’ Learn how this now-redeveloped street was filled with Chinese ‘death houses,’ where the poor came to die, until the establishments were banned in the mid-20th century.
Visit a traditional medicinal hall to learn about Chinese herbal remedies, and stroll down Pagoda Street, one of Chinatown’s main shopping hubs. Browse the markets for souvenirs, and enjoy lunch (own expense) at the Chinatown Complex Food Centre or Food Street. These food courts or ‘hawker centers’ are culinary heaven, with a myriad of food stands selling Chinese and local dishes like fish noodles, seafood, satay, and barbecued specialties.
Afterward, drive to Little India, the historical home of Singapore’s Indian community. Wend your way by shops selling flowers, saris, and sweets, and see colorful temples, churches, and mosques. Continue to colonial-era streets like Dickson Road, Clive Street, and Dunlop Street, and finally, explore Kampong Glam, Singapore’s old-time Malay-Arab quarter.
Explore lively Arab Street and Haji Lane, where traditional carpet and textile shops co-exist with trendy boutiques and cafes. Stop to admire the golden domes of the Sultan Mosque as you discover its intriguing history and links with the aristocracy.
Your tour then concludes with a hotel drop-off.
