Gulf of Siam Explorer - Voyage of Discovery

The British East India Company established a strategic trading post on the island of Singapore in 1819, which was to become an important post along the Spice Route. Although a thriving and modern metropolis, remnants of these early colonial days can be enjoyed in many traditional pursuits such as a rickshaw ride and Singapore Sling at the famous Raffles Hotel. A compact and efficient city, Singapore offers easy access from most international airports.

Lying only 30 odd nautical miles off Malaysia's east coast, Tioman Island (or Pulau Tioman) has everything one would expect from a tropical island paradise; mile after mile of coconut palm lined white sand beaches, crystal clear water teeming with marine life, friendly villages and smiling people. In local folklore Tioman is said to be the resting place of a dragon princess. Whilst flying from China to Singapore the dragon princess was lured by the charms of the crystal clear water of the South China Sea, upon entering the water she decided it was so good she would discontinue her journey and stay in the sea. Taking the form of an island she promised to offer shelter and comfort to passing travellers for eternity. The interior is not without its own natural splendour either. Part of the island is covered in thick forest and is home to much wildlife. There are several protected species of mammal on the island, including the Binturong, Long-Tailed Macaque, Slow Loris, Black Giant Squirrel, Red Giant Flying Squirrel, Mouse Deer, Brush Tailed Porcupine and the Common Palm Civet, from a total of 45 species of mammals and 138 species of birds. Moreover, Tioman has species that are endemic to its shores, such as the soft-shelled turtle and the Tioman walking catfish.

It should be noted the Tioman was the setting for the filming of Bali Hai in 1958 and as early as the 1970's TIME magazine selected Tioman as one of the worlds most beautiful islands.

At the mouth of the Terengganu River, this city of 350,000, is surrounded by the the South China Sea on three sides. Despite it's size, the pace of life here seems unhurried. the Waterfront of Kuala Terengganu is a must sea and you will be in awe of and fascinated by the hustle and bustle of activities taking place there. Stroll down the waterfront and watch fishmongers haggling for the price of fish and other seafood. The local market is another must see, locally known as Pasar Payang and located by the Terengganu River, it is one of the most popular tourist spots in Kuala Terengganu. Housed in a modern building complete with a shopping arcade, it offers visitors a variety of traditional handicrafts such as batik, silk, songket, brocade and brassware, along with other fresh produce such as fruits, vegetables and 'Keropok Lekor', which is a special local delicacy made from a mixture of fish and sago. Visitors to this market will have a delightful experience shopping in local fares at reasonable prices.

All Day:

Surrounded by sixty other islands in the Gulf of Thailand, Koh Samui is Thailand's third largest island. Appearing on maps since the time of the Ming Dynasty the island was probably first settled by Malay fisherman and people from Southern China. Historically Ko Samui and its people survived in a subsistence style but that has steadily changed since the 1980's as tourism took over as the predominate industry on the island. Despite the dominance of tourism Koh Samui has not lost its charm, there are still undeveloped quiet beaches (as well as the more well known busier ones) the people are friendly and the villages welcoming.

Koh Kut, whilst officially part of Thailand, sits right on the maritime border with Cambodia. What draws visitors and many locals to come to this island is its completely pristine nature, both inland and underwater. The rugged hills inland are home to several waterfalls and fast flowing streams whilst the coast has the white sand beaches and surrounding reef life one would expect of such a pristine island. The original inhabitants were Thais and Cambodians who fled to the Thai territory when the French took over the city of Padjantakiri in 1904. Many of the local residents still make a living out of planting rubber trees, coconut trees and from basic fisheries, just as they always have. The island is a well known shelter for fisherman from all around the region.

Overnight:

Kompong Som or Sihanoukville is home to some 18,000 people, and sits on a headland ringed by pristine beaches . In a land with thousands of years of history, Sihanoukville is a colourful but tragic upstart. A mere fifty years ago, a French-Cambodian construction company carved a camp out of the jungle and started building the first deep-sea port of a newly independent Cambodia. Named Sihanoukville in 1964 after the ruling prince of the kingdom, the booming port and its golden beaches soon drew Cambodia's jet setting elite, spawning the development of a brewery and the modernist seven-story Independence Hotel which (apparently) even hosted to Jacqueline Kennedy on her whirlwind tour of Cambodia in 1967.

Alas, the party came to an abrupt end in 1970 when Prince Sihanouk was deposed in a coup and Cambodia descended into civil war. The town, which under the new regime no longer desired to reflect the name of the deposed Prince was renamed Kompong Som and, much like the rest of Cambodia fell on hard times: the victorious Khmer Rouge used the Independence Hotel for target practice and, when they made the mistake of hijacking an American container ship, the port was bombed by the U.S. Air Force. Even after Pol Pot's regime was driven from power, the bumpy highway to the capital was long notorious for banditry and the beaches stayed empty. Peace returned in 1997 and in the ensuing ten years Sihanoukville has been busy picking up the pieces. First visited only by a few intrepid backpackers, guidebooks still talk of walls pockmarked by bullets, but any signs of war are hard to spot in today's Sihanoukville, whose new symbol seems to be the construction site. More and more Khmers and expats have settled down to run hotels, bars and restaurants, and the buzz of what the New York Times dubbed "Asia's next trendsetting beach" is evident in this region today.

As well as the immediate region, Sihanoukville serves as a gateway to the temples of Angkor Wat.

See day 7 for information

All Day:

We will take our time making our way into this dramatic city. The Song Sai Gon (Saigon River) will take us on a remarkable journey of several hours into Ho Chi Minh City. The 60km of river that we will travel to get to the city is an attraction in itself. Fisherman, traders, floating markets, the river is the life blood of the city. Once in the city itself, the influence of the former French colonial masters is still evident with wide elegant boulevards and historical colonial buildings. The markets are jumping with life and items such as the stylish lacquer ware found throughout Vietnam are on display everywhere to tempt those looking for local souvenirs to take home. The reunification museum is a popular attraction, the reminders of the turbulent and violent history of this vibrant nation are never far away.

To make the most of this vibrant city of 9 million people, we will spend the first day making our way up into the city, if conditions allow we may be able to do Zodiac excursions on the Song Sai Gon as we cruise this spectacular waterway. After overnighting onboard Orion you will have a full day at your leisure to explore this incredible city, with the final overnight before disembarkation the following day.

Overnight: