SINGAPORE
Singapore could be said to be the city that Sir Stamford Raffles built. It was his vision that identified Singapore as the perfect port for British trade and in 1819 he persuaded Sultan Hussein to cede it to the British. Singapore’s fortunes flourished until it fell to the Japanese in World War II but, after post-war independence, the energy and dynamism of Singapore’s people created one of the great modern cities of Asia. A fascinating tour of the city will give you a flavour of both modern and historical Singapore.

MUMBAI (BOMBAY), india
Trade has always been at the heart of this remarkable city and today it is at the centre of India’s remarkable economic renaissance. It was made the headquarters of the British East India Company in 1687 but it was the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 that transformed the city – then known as Bombay – into one of the world’s great trading centres. Your tour will visit all the main sights of Mumbai including Mani Bhavan, a museum that was once the residence of Mahatma Gandhi, the Victorian architectural monuments of the British Empire, the Prince of Wales Museum and the Gateway of India. Fly to Delhi and the wonders of the Golden Triangle.

MALACCA, MALAYSIA
Visiting Malacca is a unique experience; its rich historical background earned it a World Heritage Site designation in July 2008. Malacca was the centre of the Malay world in the 15th and 16th centuries. It fell to the hand of the Portuguese in 1511 and centuries of colonisation by the Portuguese, Dutch and the British have influenced the architecture of the town. This rich history will come to life as you tour the main colonial sites including the ruined Portuguese fort “A Famosa”, St Paul’s Church and Dutch Square.

PENANG
Penang was part of the Malay sultanate until 1786, when Captain Francis Light built a fort at the site of present-day Georgetown and managed to get the island ceded to the British East India Company. The island, along with Malacca and Singapore, was one of the three British Straits Settlements and the capital, Georgetown, was named after King George III. You will spend the afternoon exploring the island, ending at Georgetown with its 19th-century merchant houses, well-preserved colonial core and street markets.

COLOMBO/KANDY, SRI LANKA
A jewel of an island, Sri Lanka offers a unique combination of scenery, culture and history. Although Colombo is a modern city, it has not lost its Old World charm, spiritual heart and historical interest. This contrast is apparent as you see the colourful Pettah Bazaar and visit the Asokaramaya Buddhist temple to view the exquisite murals. After a drive through Sri Lanka’s stunning hill country you arrive at the picturesque, naturally fortified hill town of Kandy. Here you will visit the Temple of the Tooth containing the famous dental relic of the Buddha, and the National Museum.

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN BRUNEI, BORNEO
Not only is the Sultanate of Brunei a state of great wealth due to its deposits of oil and gas but it also a country of beautiful scenery with dense forests and steamy mangrove swamps. Brunei was a British protectorate from 1888 to 1984 and it is now an independent monarchy ruled by His Majesty Sultan Sir Hassanal Bolkiah. The large port of Bandar Seri Begawan is the nation’s capital and here you will vast the Royal Regalia Museum with its remarkable collection of royal jewels, see the Sultan’s vast residence and explore the local waterways. There is also the opportunity to travel inland to the Temburong National Park.

KUCHING BORNEO, MALAYSIA
Once the capital of the White Rajahs of Sarawak, today Kuching is one of the most culturally diverse cities in Malaysia. This mix of Kuching’s Malay, Chinese, Indian and colonial heritage will become apparent on your included sightseeing – including the spice streets, the Sarawak Museum and the former White Rajah’s palace – of this fascinating place.

COCHIN
Situated in the State of Kerala, Cochin has a remarkable history: here you will see the oldest church in India, 500-year-old Portuguese houses and palace from the days of the Raj. It is here in 1524 that the Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama died and his body was entombed in the chapel of Santo Antonio until it was removed to Portugal in 1538.

MARMAGAO, India
Today, Goa is chiefly known for its magnificent beaches and laid-back lifestyle. It is, however, one of the most architecturally beautiful and historically interesting places in India. Old Goa, founded by the Portuguese, is home to magnificent churches dating back to the mid-16th century. As well as visiting the historic villas of the Portuguese era and the Basilica of Bom Jesus to see the tomb of St Francis Xavier, you will also experience Goa’s wonderful tropical scenery and fragrant flower market.

DELHI & THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE, INDIA
The renowned Golden Triangle of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur highlights some of the great delights and most memorable sights of Mughal and Rajput India. In 1639, the Mughal emperor Shahjahan built a new walled city in Delhi that served as the capital of the Mughal Empire from 1649 to 1857. After the British East India Company had gained control of much of India during the 18th and 19th centuries, Calcutta became the capital until George V announced in 1911 that it was to move back to Delhi. A new capital city, New Delhi, was built to the south of the old city during the 1920s. Your visit will include a tour of the Old City and the immense Jama Masjid (Great Mosque). You will see the famous Red Fort and Raj Ghat where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated. Also, British-built New Delhi offers a fascinating contrast: here, the dusty 58 alleys are replaced by broad, arrow-straight boulevards and the monuments of Empire.

JAIPUR & FATEHPUR SIKHRI, INDIA
Popularly known as the Pink City, Jaipur is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Rajasthan. Founded in 1727 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, the ruler of Amber, Jaipur is a city of palaces built from rose coloured stone. You will visit the opulent Maharaja’s City Palace, and also see the magnificent Hawa Mahal (Palace of the Winds). Another highlight is the Amber Fort with its lavish interiors. Fatehpur Sikhri served as the Mughal Empire's capital from 1571 until 1585. Though the court took 15 years to build, it was abandoned after 14 years because the water supply was unable to sustain the growing population.

AGRA & THE TAJ MAHAL, INDIA
A visit to Agra is on every traveller’s “must see” list. In 1506, Sultan Sikandar Lod moved his capital from Delhi to Agra but it was under the Mughal emperors from 1526 to 1658 that the city achieved fame and glory. Since Agra was one of the most important cities in India under the Mughals, it witnessed a great deal of ambitious and splendid building activity. Babar, the founder of the Mughal dynasty, laid out the first formal Persian garden on the banks of river Yamuna and his grandson Akbar raised the towering ramparts of the Great Red Fort. Shah Jahan, known for his keen interest in architecture, gave Agra its most prized monument, the Taj Mahal.